Refuse body loading mechanisms



July 9., 1957 A. 6. BROWN ETAL 2,798,624

REFUSE BODY LOADING MECHANISMS Filed March 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l l INVENTORS a2 /0/ BY 5% ATTORNEYS y 1957 A. G. BROWN EI'AL 2,798,624

' REFUSE BODY LOADING MECHANISMS Filed March 25, 1955 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M4 /2@ 41a /5/- I25 /23 A NV TORJ R ATTORNEYS July 9, 1957 A. G BROWN ETAL 2,793,624

' REFUSE BODY LOADING MECHANISMS Filed Marh 25,- 1955 5 sheets-sheet z ATTORNEYS United States Patent This invention relates to improvements in refuse body loading mechanism.

The present invention relates to improvements upon the refuse body loading mechanism which isshown and described in application, of George W. Murphy, Serial No. 348,393, filed April 13,. 1953, and now Patent No.

2,748,964, and the present improvements are designed to simplify the mechanism and render the same more automatic and relatively foolproof in operation.

It is a general object of the invention to. provide.

means including a bellcrank together with lost motion= linkage for causing proper coordinated movement of the bucket-and: packer plate relative to one another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a constructionas. above described wherein, after the bucket has beenfilled, the packer plate completesits rearward movement before the bucket has been fully raised; Thus,

further upward movement of the bucket forces a wedge shape lower portion of the packer plate into the bucket at the back of the load. Thereafter, when the bucket arrives at its uppermost position of elevation, the packer plate is in a position to efliciently sweep all of the refuse from the bucket into the body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refuse body wherein substantially all of the operating mechanism, except the bucket and packer plate, are located in compartments on the sides of the hopper so as to be protected from the refuse.

A further object of the invention is to provide refuse loadingmechanism having an improved guard door which is automatically actuated to eliminate the possibility of injury to the operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide refuse loading mechanism wherein the same hydraulic cylinders which operate the bucket and packer plate are also employed in an etlicient manner to raise the tailgatewhen the body is to be unloaded.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a device as above described, an arrangement wherein there are no hydraulic lines or valves on the tailgate, the latter being carried on the body proper, and there being mechanical control linkage between the tailgate and body for operating an hydraulic control valve on the body, the arrangement being such as not to interfere with opening of the tailgate.

With the above and other objects in view, the inven tion consists of the improvements in refuse body loading mechanisms, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views: p

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view looking principally at aside of the tailgate, withthe compartment cover removed, parts being broken away, and the rear guard door being in open position;

Fig. 2 is. a fragmentary plan view lookingdown on a part of the framebeneath the body-proper to show the hydraulic controlvalve and the linkage which permits operation of said valve from the tailgate, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view looking at the rear of the tailgate on one side thereof to show one of the, guard door latches;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view to illustrate the spring cylinder which is used in conjunction.

with the automatic control assembly;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view taken along the line. 5-5 of Fig; 1;,

Fig. 6 is; a vertical sectional view taken midway of the width of the tailgate, the guard door being omitted and the parts being shown in suitable position for loading of the bucket;

t Fig. 7 is. a diagrammatic view of the rear end portion.

of a refuse unit showing: the position. ofthe parts just after the packer plate has started rearwardly;

Fig. 8 is a similar view after the packer plate has completed its rearward movement and while the bucket is only: partly elevated;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the bucket has been. completely elevated;

Fig; 10 is a similar view showing the position of the parts just after the completion of a packing stroke of the packer plate and as the bucket is about to be released;

ets 17 (Fig. 6), by means of which the tailgate is pivotally connected to the body for upward and rearward swinging movement as is common in the art. The tailgate unit includes spaced side members 18 connected by a transverse member 19 at the lower rear, the latter being flanged inwardly as at 20 to form a bucket stop. The spaced side plates 18 are also connected at the top and upper rear by a curved sheet metal plate 21, the latter having its lower edge inwardly flanged as at 22. Between the members 20 and 22 is a space which forms a rear loading opening 23. This space is adapted to be.

closed during most of the cycle of operation by a curved door 24 (see Fig. 1). p

Rigidly mounted on a rotatable shaft 24, the latter extending transversely of the tailgate as shown in Fig. 6,

is a refuse bucket 25. The latter includes a bottom 26,

a front wall 27, and side walls 28. y

Mounted rigidly on a rotatable shaft 29 which extends transversely of the tailgate is a swingable packer plate 30. Pivotally connected to the rear of the packer plate as at 31 (Fig. 6) is the end of a piston rod 32, the latter extending into a cylinder 33 and having its upperend connected to a piston 34, the latter acting against a spring 35. The upper end of the cylinder 33 is connected to a transverse shaft 36. The ends of the shaft 36 project through arcuate slots 37 in the side walls 18. of the tailgate. The interior of the tailgate constitutes a hopper for receiving refuse which is dumped into the rear opening 23.

On the outside of each of the tailgate side plates 18 is an extension wall 38 which projects outwardly a short distance to define a compartment 39 for the operating mechanism. Each compartment v39 is normally closed by a swinging door (not shown) which has been removed in order to expose the parts, All of the major parts shown in the compartment 39 in Fig. 1 are 'dupli Fig. 11 is aschematic view of the hydraulic system;

cated on the opposite'side except for the control handle 1 and associated control assembly and parts.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the ends of the shaft 24 on which thebucket is supported are rotatable in bearings 40. Extending tranversely beneath the bottom 26 of the bucket'35 is a lift bar 41 (see Fig. 6) which bar has ends projecting through arcuate slots 42 in the side walls 18 of the tailgate; as is shown in Fig. 1.

Mounted on the, ends of a pivotshaft as at 43 in each of the compartments 39 is a bellcrank member 44, preferably comprising spaced plates as shown in Fig. 1. Pivotally connected to the -body-15, one on each side, as at 45, are hydraulic cylinders 46 having rams 47. The outer ends of the rams 47 are pivotally connected to the bellcrank levers 44 as at 48. Pivotally connected to a lower corner of eachbellcrank lever 44 as at 49 is a lost motion cylinder 50 havingan extension rod "51. The latter has its upper end connected to a lost motion piston 52 within the cylinder 50 which piston is adapted to contact the bottom of the cylinder after the latter has been pulled upwardly a sufficient disstance by the bellcrank 44 as will be hereinafter explained. .After the pistons 52 engage the bottoms of the cylinders 50, during clockwise movement of the bellcranks 44, a pull will be exerted on the rods 51 which are connected by pivot members 53.with the ends of the bucket moving bar 41 which project through the slots.

Referring again to Fig. 6, projecting from the rear of the. packer plate at each end thereof are stops 54, which are adapted to coact withstops55 at upper portions of the innersides of the side walls 23 to limit the rearward movement of the packer plate 30 to the position shown in Fig. 9.

A pivotally mounted shaft 56 which extends transversely of the tailgate carries latches 57, one adjacent the inner side of each of the tailgate side walls 23. When the bucket is in the raised position of Fig. 9 the flange 58;which extends along the upper edge of the front wall 27 -of the bucket will snap into engagement with the latches 57 as in Fig. 9, the latches being normally urged to latching position by springs 60.

Each end of the transversely mounted shaft 56 for the latchesextends pivotally through the side walls 18. On the outer side of each of said walls, in the compartmerit 39, is' a lever 61 which is positioned to be en gaged by a corner of the bellcrank 44, just after the packer plate arrives at the packing position of Fig. 10, to cause a rocking of the latch shaft 56 and a release of the bucket 25. When the bucket falls by gravity it is snubbed by the snubbers 161 which are pivotally connected to the pivot members 53 at the ends of the bucket lifting bar 41 (see Fig. 1).

"As the bucket falls by gravity it engages the rollers 62 (see Fig. 3) to release the latches 63. These latches have been in engagement with the projections 64 of the guard door to hold the latter down. When, however, the'p'rojections are released by the latches 63, the energy which has been stored in the coil springs 65 (see Fig. 1) exerts a pull on the cables 66. These cables pass around pulleys 6'7 and connect with cradles 68 which are pivoted to a frame bracket as at 69. A pull on the cradle will rock the latter on its pivot 69 in a clockwise direction to cause cradle portions 70 to push upwardly on the pivoted arms '71 and thereby cause raising of the guard door 24 to the position of Fig. 1. The upper ends of the arms 71 are pivotally connected to the sides of the door through a lost motion slot connection 72.

At the start of a retracting cycle, as the piston rods 47 of the main cylinders 46 are being pulled inwardly,

4 1) there is a pull on the rods 73 which rocks the cradles 68 in a counterclockwise direction on the pivot 69. This allows the door 24 to lower itself by gravity only as fast as the portions 70 of the cradles are swung in a counterclockwise direction by the bellcranks 44. The upward movement of the door under influence of the springs 65 is snubbed by snubbers 78 which are pivoted to frame members as at 79.

The lower corner of one of the bellcranks 44 carries a projection 80 which is engageable with a small bellcrank 81 which is pivotally mounted as as 82 to the frame. An opposite corner of the small bellcrank is in the form of a yoke engageable as at 83 with a rod 84. The upper end of the rod 84 is pivoted to a small bellcrank 85 which is positioned to be engaged by a projection 86 at the upper corner of the bellcrank 44.

The lower end of the link 84 is pivotally connected as at 87 with the upper end of a toggle lever 88 of an automatic control assembly, the toggle lever being pivoted as at 89 to the frame. A lower extension of the toggle lever is pivoted as at 90 to the upper end of a piston 91 (see Fig. 4), which piston includes a rod 91' slidable through the bottom of a cylinder 92, as shown in Fig. 4, the piston 91 acting against a coil 'spring 93 in the cylinder 92. The cylinder92 is pivotally supported on trunnions 94. The toggle lever also includes a projection having a C-shaped end 95, the latter being cooperable with the end of a lever 96 to rock a lever 97 which is pivoted as at 98 to the frame.

A control handle 99 has its upper end pivoted to the frame as at 100. The lever projects through the slot 101 of a laterally projecting bracket 102 (see Fig. 5), the slot having an intermediate shoulder 103 against which the lever is positioned when it is in neutral.. The lever is -tion shown in Fig. 1.

connected by a link 104 with the upper end of the lever 97 of the automatic control assembly. The lower end of the lever 97 is pivotally connected at one end to an actuating rod 105. The actuating rod projects slidably through a hole 106 in the tailgate, and its extreme inner end extends removably through a hole 105, and coacts with one end of a bellcrank lever 107 (see Fig. 2) which is pivoted to the frame of the main body as at 108. The other end of the bellcrank is pivotally connected to a rod 109 which is adapted to actuate an hydraulic control valve 110 mounted on the frame of the main body. When the manual control lever 99 is in the neutral position against the shoulder 103 of Fig. 5, the rod 109 is maintained in an intermediate position to hold the valve 110 in neutral. When the rod 109 is pushed inwardly against the tension of the spring 110 then the valve 110 is moved to a position to cause retraction of the rams 47. If there is no pressure on the bellcrank 107 of Fig. 2, then the valve rod will automatically move to an outermost position for extension of the rams 47.

A tailgate release lever 111 (see Fig. 1) is pivoted as at 112. The portion of the lever on the opposite side of the pivot 112 is connected to one end of a cable 113. The latter 'extends around pulleys 114 and 115 and connects with a lever 116. Movement of the lever 116 is adapted to lower stop blocks 117, one on each side, to a position where they may be engaged by the shoulders 118 of the bellcrank levers, if the rams are in a retracted condition and moving rearwardly rather than in the extended posi- Th'ereafter, if the tailgate is manually unlatche'd from the body by loosening of the manual latches 16' (see Fig. 6), extensile movement of the pistons 47 will cause the shoulders 118 of the bellcrank levers- 44 to push against the lowered blocks 117 to raise the tailgate into suitable condition for dumping the vehicle body[ to normally urge the blocks 117 in a downward direction." When the hand levers 111 of Fig. 1 are in the latched posispasms shown, the blocks are held in the raised posit i o n. against gravity and against the springs 1201 Operation Inuse of the improved refuse body with the parts: in

the. position of Figs. land 6, the guard door 24 being:

open, the collectors will dump their baskets fullof refuse into the bucket until it is filled. The operator will then. pull the handle. 99 out of its position against the neutral shouldenltlll of Fig. 5. After this. has been done the spring 93" (Fig. 4) in the cylinder 92, which is preloaded. will push; in a; direction to rock the. toggle lever 88 of Fig. 1- in a clockwise direction. 'l-"he upper arm of, the C -shape'd end 95. of the toggle lever willrock the lever 96 on. the pivot 98 in a direction tocause aninward pushing movement on' the pushrod105. Theinner end of the rod 105- will then push; on the bellcrank 107 (Fig. 2) to move the rod 109 inwardly to shift the hydraulic control valve 11!}. Red 109 is, normally urged in 311' outward direction by spring 110' or by any other suitable means. The shifting of the valve 110 sets the hydraulic circuit fora retracting movement of the rams 47 into the main cylinders 46. a v V a a Referring now to Fig. 11, with the primary control valve 121, which is. the; cab, set: inqpacking position, flow of hydraulic fluid from the tank 122,. undentheforce of the pump 123, throughline 124, will be directed. by valve; 121; out of line125. With the secondary valve 110 the. retracting position as heretofore described in connection withFigQ, fluid under pressure will flow out of line 1.26 and through lines 127, 128 and 129 into the cylinders. 46 to causeretraction of: the rams 47. This will swing the hellcranks 44 in a clockwise direction on the pivots 43, referring to Fig. 1 Through the shaft 36 this will exert a pull onthe cylinders 33 (Fig. 6) which, through the transmission'of force bythe springs 35 in sa-id cylinders to the? pistons 34, will exert a pull on the packer plate. to start the same rearwardly from the position of Fig. 6' to; the position shown. in Fig. 7., During this movement the pistons 52 in cylinders 50 (Figs. 1 and- 12)- will havejtravelled tothe bottom of the cylinderg50. When they hit the bottomi the rods 51 will exert a pull on the pivots 53 at the ends of the bucket bar 41, to pull Fig. 8.

verse shaft 36 will h-ave moved part way up along the arcuate slots 37 from the position of Fig. 1. At the same time the stops 54.011 the rear of the packer plate will engage the stops 55- shown in Fig. 6 to stop the packer However, inasmuch as the plate in the position of Fig. 8. bellcranks 44 are still movin the pistons 34 in the cylinders 33 will compress the springs during the remainder of the movement of the bellcranks, while" the bucket is being. moved from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig.9. During this movement, the wedge shaped lower portion of the packer plate scrapes down the rear wall 27 of the bucket to start the refuse in the bucket m oving forwardly into the body proper. When the bucket arrives at its final raised position at Fig. 9 it automatically snaps into the latches 57 a Atv this point in the cycletheprojection 86 on the bellcrank of Fig; 1 has moved into engagement with the small bellcrank 85 (see Fig. 1) to shift the rod 84 in a downward direction. During such movement the toggle' lev er is rocked in a counterclockwise direction on its pivot 89 to eompress the spring 93 in the cylinder92 un til the cylinder swings on its trunnions 94 past dead center. When this occurs the spring will snap the toggle lever 8 8 in a counterclockwise direction causing the lower arrn er the C-shaped end 95 of the toggle lever to engage. the arm 96 to rock the lever 97 on its pivot 98 in a direction so as to pull the valve actuating rod 105 out of 6 engagement with the. bellcrank 107' of Fig. 2. lbws the spring to shift the valve 110 to the packing. position to cause flow of hydraulic fluid from the. valve 110 through. line 130 instead of through line 126 (Fig. II). From line 130 the hydraulic fluid will flow through the branches 131 into the right hand ends. of the hydraulic cylinders 46 to cause extensible movement. of the rams 47. This will cause pivotal. movement ofthe hell'craiiks 44 in a counterclockwise direction toward the position of 1, Duringjsuch movement metal: to metal contact between the pistons 34 andv the ends of the cylinders33 will cause a pushing of the packer. plate from the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 10. During] such movementrefuse in the bucket will be swept inwardly to clean out thebucket, and at the same timepush it into the body and compress refuse already" in the body. a a a a a I v When the packer plate arrives at the'position of Fig. 10, the corners of the bellcranks 44 which are adjacent the. shaft 36 willhitarms 61 on the rock shaft 56 to rock the Iatches S'I out of engagement with the bucket flange, 58'. This allows the empty bucket to drop by gravity back to the position of Fig. 6. In so dropping it is snubbed by'the' snubbers 161, and when the bucket gets nearly all ofthe wayfdown it will press the rollers 62' of Fig. 3' outwardly. This will release the latches. 63 which have been engaging the door lugs 64 to hold the door in closed position to protect Workmenwhile the mechanism is operating. When the latches 63 are released the springs 65 will act on the cable 66 to. rock the ends 76 of the cradles 68 upwardly so. that they can. push on the. arms. 71 to raise the guard door to the position ofFig l. a am At the. st'ait of a retracting portion of the cycle thei door 2'4 is lowered by gravity only as fast as the cradles 68 are swung downwardly in a counterclockwise direction through the action of the links 73 on. the main b ellcranks 44. Just after the bellcranks 44 have hit the members. 61 to release the bucket latches, the projections 80 on another corner of one of the bellcranks 44 engages the small bellcrank 81 to shift the rod 84' upwardly. This acts through the toggle lever 88, aided by the spring 93 in the cylinder 92, to snap the rod 104 and lever 99 back to neutral position, the spring 93 in. the cylinder 92 tending to hold it inv neutral. Thereafter the cycle may be repeated. a a

When the body has been completely filled with refuse audit is desired to dump, it is recommended thatlthe mechanism be run through the retracting part of the cycle to pull the piston rods 47 in. When in this position the controls are then locked in neutral position. Then the tailgate clamps 16' are manually unclamped to release thetailgate from the body for swinging movement. Next, the lever 111 is released and raised to release the cables 113 and allow the stop blocks 117 to fall downwardly from the position of Fig. 1. Such. movement is urged by the springs 120 of Fig. 6 and by gravity. The blocks 117 are then in a position to be engaged by the shoulders 118 on the bellcrank levers 44 when the rams 47 are extended far enough. After such engagement takes place the piston rods will act through the shoulders 118 of the bellcranks to push the tailgate on its upper hinges 17 to open position for dumpin'g. Immediately after the hooks 111 have been released to lower the blocks 117, the control handle 99 should be pushed manually into the retracting position of the slot 101 of Fig. 5. Then, the valve 121 in the cab should be Set for tailgate raising to cause fiow through a line and lines 131 (Fig. 11) into the cylinders 46. When this has been done the hand lever 99 will automatically go into proper position for tailgate lifting. To lower the tailgate, the primary valve 121 in the cab is turned to cause flow through the line 150, lines 126, 127, 128 and 129. Cylinder 151 of Fig. 11 is the body hoisting cylinder for the dumping action, and when the" '7 valve 121 in the cab is in proper position hydraulic fluid can circulate through lines 152 and 153 to operate the hoist r v i Various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated, as may come Within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket with a rear wall having an upper edge and having a pivotally mounted packer plate for transferring refuse from the bucket into said rear opening when the bucket has been swung to elevated position on its pivot, common means for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer Plate including mechanism for delaying the start of elevating movement of the bucket until after the 'packer plate has started its retracting movement, and means for stopping the packer plate in a predetermined retracted position adjacent the rear wall of the bucket while the bucket continues its elevating movement, the rear wall of the bucket being shaped and positioned to coact with the packer plate when the latter is in said retracted position so that refuse is scraped from the inner surface of the rear wall of the bucket by the packer plate during the final portion of the elevating movement of the bucket and while the packer plate is at rest, said common means including mechanism for delaying inward packing movement of the packer plate until after the bucket has been completely elevated and until after said rear wall scraping has been completed.

2. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket with a rear wall having an upper edge and having a pivotally mounted packer plate for transferring refuse from the bucket into said rear opening when the bucket has been swung to elevated position on its pivot, common means for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate including a lost motion connection between said means and said bucket for delaying the start of elevating movement of the bucket until after the packer plate has started its retracting movement, and means for stopping the packer plate in a predetermined retracted position adjacent the rear wall of the bucket before the bucket finishes its elevating movement, the rear Wall of the bucket being shaped and positioned to coact with the packer plate when the latter is in said retracted position so that refuse is scraped from the inner surface of the rear wall of the bucket by the packer plate during the final portion of the elevating movement of the bucket and while the packer plate is at rest, said common means including mechanism for delaying inward packing movement of the packer plate until after the bucket has been completely elevated and until after said rear wall scraping has been completed.

3. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket with a rear wall having an upper edge and having a pivotally mounted packer plate for transferring refuse from the bucket into said rear opening when the bucket has been swung to elevated position on its pivot, common means for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate including a connection with said packer plate, and means for stopping said packer plate in a predetermined retracted position adjacent the rear wall of the bucket, said connection with said packer plate permitting further elevating movement of said common means and bucket after said packer plate has been stopped and while it is at rest, the rear wall of the bucket being shaped and positioned to coact with the packer plate when the latter is in said stopped retracted position so that refuse is scraped from the inner surface of the rear wall by the packer plate during said further elevating movement of thebucket and while the packer plate is at rest, said common means including mechanism for delaying inward packing movement of the packer plate until after the bucket has been completely elevated and until after said rear wall scraping has been completed.

4. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and having a pivotally mounted packer plate for transferring refuse from the bucket into said rear opening when the bucket has been swung to elevated position on its pivot, common means for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate including a connection with said packer plate, and means for stopping said packer plate in a predetermined retracted position, said connection with said packer plate being yielding to permit further elevating movement of said common means and bucket after said packer plate has been stopped and while it is at rest, the rear wall of the bucket being shaped and positioned to coact with the packer plate when the latter is in said stopped retracted position so that refuse is scraped from the inner surface of the rear wall by the packer plate during said further elevating movement of the bucket and while the packer plate is at rest.

5. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and having a pivotally mounted packer plate for transferring refuse from the bucket into said rear opening when the bucket has been swung to elevated position on its pivot, common means for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate including a spring cushioned cylinder connection with said packer plate, means for stopping said packer plate in a predetermined retracted position, said spring cylinder connection with said packer plate permitting further elevating movement of said common means and bucket after said packer plate has been stopped and while it is at rest, the rear wall of the bucket being shaped and positioned to coact with the packer plate when the latter is in said stopped retracted position so that refuse is scraped from the inner surface of the rear wall by the packer plate during said further elevating movement of the bucket and while the packer plate is at rest.

6. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and having a pivotally mounted packer plate for transferring refuse from the bucket into said rear opening when the bucket has been swung to elevated position on its pivot, common means for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packing plate including a common pivotally mounted actuating member, lost motion linkage connecting said actuating member with said bucket for elevating the latter only after said actuating member has moved a predetermined distance, a yielding connection between said common actuating member and packer plate for causing retracting movement thereof to start at the same time as the start of movement of said actuating member, and means for stopping said packer plate in a predetermined retracted position, said yielding connection between the common operating member and packer plate permitting continued movement of said common actuating member and bucket after the packer plate has been stopped and while it is at rest.

7. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening and having a tailgate normally covering said rear opening, said tailgate having a rear loading opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket in said tailgate movable between a loweredand an elevated position and having a pivotally mounted packer plate in said tailgate for transferring refuse from the bucket into the body when the bucket is elevated, means including a pivoted actuating member for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate, a movably mounted guard doorfor the rear openinglof the tailgate, means respon si ve to arrival of the bucket-at lowered position for automatically opening said guard door, and means connected to said pivoted actuating member for automatically causing; gradual lowering'ofi the guard door before elevating movementof the bucket begins. p

8; In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening and having a tailgate normally covering said rear opening, said tailgate having a rear loading. opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and a pivotally mounted packer plate in said tailgate for transferring refuse from the bucket into the body when the bucket is elevated, means including a pivoted actuating member for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate, an upwardly slidable guard door for the rear 0136111 ing of the tailgate, pivotally mounted operating arms connected to said guard, door, spring means connected to said arms in which energy is stored when the guard door is lowered by gravity, releasable latches for said guard door, and meansfor releasing said latches at a predetermined timein the cycle of operation, said spring means being so connected" with the guard door arms as to raise the latter and door when said latches are released.

9. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening and having a tailgate normally covering said rear openings, said tailgate having a rear loading opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and a pivotally mounted packer plate in said tailgate for transferring refuse from the bucket into the body when the bucket is elevated, means including a pivoted actuating member for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate, an upwardly slidable guard door for the rear opening of the tailgate, pivotally mounted operating arms connected to said guard door, spring means connected to said arms in which energy is stored when the guard door is lowered by gravity, releasable latches for said guard door, and means positioned to be engaged by the bucket when the latter is being lowered for releasing said latches at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation, said spring means being so connected with the guard door arms as to raise the latter and door when said latches are released.

10. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening and having a tailgate normally covering said rear opening, said tailgate having a rear loading open, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and a pivotally mounted packer plate in said tailgate for transferring refuse from the bucket into the body when the bucket is elevated, means includ ing a pivoted actuating member for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate, an upwardly slidable guard door for the rear opening of the tailgate, pivotally mounted operating arms connected to said guard door, pivotally mounted cradles engageable with the guard door arms, and linkage connections between said cradles and pivoted actuating member for the bucket and packer plate to control lowering movement of the guard door by gravity in accordance with the movement of said actuating member.

11. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening and having a tailgate normally covering said rear opening, said tailgate having a rear loading opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and a pivotally mounted packer plate in said tailgate for transferring refuse from the bucket into the body when the bucket is elevated, means including a pivoted actuating member for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate, an upwardly slidable guard door for the rear opening of the tailgate, pivotally mounted operating arms connected to said guard door, pivotally mounted cradles engageable with the guard door arms, linkage connections between said cradles and pivoted actuating member for the bucket and" packer plate to control loweringmovenient of theguard door by gravity in accordance with the movement of. said actuating member, spring. meansconnected; to said cradleshin. which energy is stored when the guard door is lowered by gravity, releasable latches for said guard door, and means for releasing. said latches at a predetermined time the cycle operation, said spring means being: so connectedwith the guard door cradles as to-raise the latter and door whenfsaid latches are released.

. 12. In a device fof loading refuse into a truck body the body connected with said valve for operating the,

latter, said last means having an operating portionpositioned to be engaged by the inner end' of said control rod of the tailgate when the tailgate is in normal position.

U In adevicefor loading refuse into a truck body havinga' rear opening and having a pivotally mounted} tailgate normally closing said rear opening, mechanism in said tailgate for loading refuse into said body through said rear opening of the body, fluid pressure operated means for operating said mechanism including a control valve on the body, a slidable control rod in said tailgate having an end projecting inwardly therefrom, manually operable means on the tailgate for operating said control rod, means on the tailgate for automatically operating said control rod at predetermined times during the operation of said loading mechanism, and means on the body connected with said control valve for operating the latter, said means having an operating portion positioned to be engaged by the inner end of said tailgate rod when the tailgate is in normal position.

14. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening, and having a pivotally mounted tailgate normally closing said opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and having a pivotally mounted packer plate for transferring refuse from the bucket into said rear opening when the bucket has been swung to elevated position on its pivot, said bucket and packer plate being in the tailgate, a ,common pivotally mounted actuating member on the tailgate, means between said member and bucket and packer plate for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packing plate, fluid pressure operated means for operating said actuating member including a control valve on the truck body, a slida'ble control rod in said tailgate having an end projecting inwardly therefrom, means on the truck body connected with said control valve for operating the latter, said means having an operating portion positioned to be engaged by the inner end of said tailgate rod when the tailgate is in normal position, mechanism on the tailgate for moving said control rod including a slidable actuator, and means between said common actuating member for the bucket and packer plate engageable with said slidable actuator to cause operation of the control valve at predetermined times in the cycle of operation.

15. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket with a rear wall portion having an upper edge and having a pivotally mounted packer plate for transferring refuse from the bucket into said rear opening when the bucket has been swung to elevated position on its pivot, common means for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate, and means for stopping the packer plate in a predetermined retracted position adjacent the rear wall of the bucket while the bucket continues its elevating movement, the rear wall of the bucket being shaped and positioned to coact with the packer plate when the latter is in said retracted position so that refuse is scraped from the inner surface of the rear wall of the bucket by the packer plate during the final portion of the elevating movement of the bucket and while the packer plate is at rest, said common means including mechanism for delaying inward packing movement of the packer plate until after the bucket has been completely elevated and until after said rear wall scraping has been completed.

16. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening and, having a tailgate normally covering said rear opening, said tailgate having a rear loading opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and a pivotally mounted packer plate in said tailgate for transferring refuse from the bucket into the body when the bucket is elevated, means including a pivoted actuating member for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate, an upwardly slidable guard door for the rear opening of the tailgate, pivotally mounted operating arms connected to said guard door, releasable latches for said guard door, means for releasing said latches at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation, and means connected with the guard door arms to raise the latter and door after the latches have been released.

17. In a device for loading refuse into a truck body having a rear opening and having a tailgate normally covering said rear opening, said tailgate having a rear loading opening, said device being of the type having a pivotally mounted bucket and a pivotally mounted packer plate in said tailgate for transferring refuse from the bucket into the body when the bucket is elevated, means including a pivoted actuating member for causing coordinated pivotal movement of said bucket and packer plate, an upwardly slidable guard door for the rear opening of the tailgate, pivotally mounted operating arms connected to said guard door, releasable latches for said guard door, means positioned to be engaged by the bucket when the latter arrives at lowered position for releasing said latches, and means connected with the guard door arms for raising the latter and door when the latches have been released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

